Death and the glory of God

Manuscript:

Obit

Robert Foutch Wilhite, age 89, of Hendersonville, passed away on Tuesday, July 27th, 2021, after an extended illness. He was born in Cookeville, TN, on October 5th, 1931, the son of E. Nonda and Mattie Foutch Wilhite. His siblings preceded him in death: brother Tom Wilhite, and sisters Gaye Wilhite Tabor and Mildred Wilhite Stinson Jackson.

At the age of nine, Bob professed faith in Jesus as his savior and that became his anchor throughout his life. He loved serving the church and first became a deacon at age 30 at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, VA. That was the beginning of fifty-five years as an active deacon. Bob spent the last 50 years as a member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, TN. and later became an honorary lifetime deacon.

Bob's favorite hobby was golf, and he was a long time member of Bluegrass Country Club. Although he struggled with the game, he really enjoyed the friends that he made while playing and passed his love of the game to his grandchildren.

Bob's career began as a pharmacist. He later became interested in finance due to the influence of an Army buddy so he moved to Hendersonville in 1970 to begin a new career. He was a stockbroker in the firm that is now Wells Fargo.

Bob's family was the most important thing to him. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mitzi Hendry Wilhite, daughters Kathy Wilhite Warren (Ken) and Kristen Wilhite, granddaughters Rachael Warren Jent (Jarrett), Haley Wilson Marcum (Austin), and grandsons Ryan Warren, Brett Warren, Eric Warren (Becca) and Chad Wilson (Andrea), plus 6 great grandchildren.

At a graveside service in Cookeville City Cemetery on Friday, July 30th, at 11:00 AM, the family will celebrate the life of a man who was their spiritual leader and loved them unconditionally. Our loss is heaven's gain and what a glorious reunion he is having with Jesus and loved ones who have gone before him and now welcome him to a glorious forever home.

Intro

Amen and amen.

I have dreaded this day for a long, long time. Because I knew that it would be so incredibly difficult... For me, for all of us. My heart hurts today. And I know that yours does as well.

But in my line of work, unfortunately you grow to anticipate calls like these. And knowing that I very well one day may get the call to preach my grandfather's funeral, I have long wondered what to say.

Yes, today is sad. Tomorrow will be sad. We are right to grieve and be heartbroken right now.

But beloved friends and family, if ever there was a cause to celebrate a life truly well-lived it would be today.

This tear-soaked day is all the more a testimony of the kind of man that Granddaddy was.

Over the next few days and I'd venture for a long time to come, our memories will flood with remembrances of being on the golf course, playing cards around the kitchen table, eating chocolate and so much more. I wouldn't dare speak away the difficulty of today, but I pray that even in grief, that we would see hope.

That's exactly what Paul says,

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 (ESV)

So with that said, I'd like to invite some of you all to perhaps ay a word or two in honor of granddaddy's memory. We'll begin with Brett. I know Rachael wanted briefly say a word. After that if anyone wishes to briefly say a word you are absolutely encouraged to. When it seems like we are ready to transition I'll invite my father to go ahead and say a few words.

[Brett]

[Rach]

[...]

[Dad]

Again, I have long since wondered what I could say on a day like today. And I keep coming back to only one option and that is to unabashedly share the Gospel because:

A) That is the only hope that you and I have in this life for salvation. Whether you have walked good an long with Jesus. Whether you are in a season of doubt. Or perhaps issues of faith have not been a concern of yours before... We all need the Gospel today, and everyday.

B) And because that is exactly what my grandfather would want me to do because he loved Jesus, so, so much.

This man's Bible, if it were a passport would be stamped like the most well-travelled jetsetter who has weaved in and out from country to country. He so obviously knew and loved Jesus. He was radiant with the essence of Christ.

I remember as a little boy, waking up at grandmama and granddaddy's to see sausage balls in the toaster oven, and granddaddy with the crossword in his hand. I'd lean in all sleepy-eyed give grandmama a hug and a kiss. I'd lean in and give granddaddy a hug and a kiss. And for the rest of that day it would not be a strange thing for me to be asked, "Eric... are you wearing aftershave?"

To which I'd say, "No, that's my granddaddy's cologne."

It's funny how closely the senses are tied to one's memory, right?

You could tell that I had been with my grandfather because I smelled like him. I had been so close with him that if you walked past me, you also got him.

We get a similar thought in Luke 7.

A woman comes to the feet of Jesus. She was known through town as a sinner. But in her brokenness, and desperation, and hope she brings Jesus a gift.

She takes a jar of perfume, no doubt it was dear and precious to her and she breaks it open. You can imagine the smell filling the room.

She washed Jesus' feet with perfume, and with her tears. She wiped his feet clean with her own hair.

You can imagine how long fragrance stuck with her. And each time it filled her nose it reminded her over and over and over again of the savior who loved her.

Granddaddy was a man who was radiant of Jesus.

If you look at any given part of his life you saw someone who had so obviously dwelt in God's presence. Constantly. continuously.

If you walked by Granddaddy, what you got was Jesus.

If there's anything that you and I could take away from granddaddy's life, it should be his passion and desire to be with Jesus each and every day.

Make no mistake, today is bitter and sad. But even in these moments we know that they are not foreign to Jesus.

There is often a cloud of worry behind times like today, a feeling that one has to remain composed, to be strong, sometimes even unfeeling, but right now, whatever you are feeling in your heart of hearts, it's okay.

God can handle it.

You do not have to mask anything, you are among friends and family today who want nothing more than to be with you, support you, and love you.

So I beg of you, let your walls to come down.

Don't be worried or think it taboo to feel grief.

Jesus himself experienced grief.

In John 11:35, simply states… “Jesus wept”.

But if we look at the whole story of John 11 we see something far deeper going on than just what two words explain.

We see that Jesus was surrounded by friends and family, much like we are today, and we see pain and heartache fill the air

...and he wept.

One of Jesus' dearest friends had died, a man named Lazarus.

Jesus cared for this man. He cared for his family. He cared for his sisters, Mary and Martha.

And as we read, you may well find yourself feeling as they did, today.

John 11:17–27 (ESV)

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Verse 32, we see Mary's response.

John 11:32–37 (ESV)

32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept.

36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

Why did Jesus weep? Knowing full and well exactly what is about to happen, namely that he mere seconds from breathing life once again, why does he bother to weep?

Because the beauty of Jesus is that we don’t serve a God who is so removed from us that he can't sympathize with us, but rather He is a God that draws near in our deepest hurt.

He experiences these feelings of heartache and pain. Frustration and grief.

And especially on a day like today we can know with fullness of heart that even grieving, is an act of worship.

Every feeling that you experiencing right now has been felt by the Savior of the world. So don't worry. Don’t feel isolated or alone. You're in good company.

Jesus is with you today.

But the story isn't over here. It's not over for Lazarus. It's not over for you. It's not over for me. And it is far, far from over for granddaddy.

John 11:38–44 (ESV)

Jesus Raises Lazarus

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Now if I can let you walk away from this day with one thing on your mind it's this...

Granddaddy... is not dead.

He's not dead.

HE'S NOT DEAD.

HE'S MORE ALIVE NOW THAN HE'S EVER BEEN.

And if he could tell you one thing right now it would be with an undeniably joyful grin saying... it's true! It's all really true! Live this life sold out for Jesus because it is all totally... worth it.

We were with him in his closing years, months, and days.

And the sights made your heart ache. But now grandaddy's knows no such thing. He's living in a Revelation 21 reality where John says, God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain, these former things have passed away.

Praise God!

So I lock arms with you all and issue you a final charge.

We have all come together here to "honor granddaddy's memory."

So, if you want to honor granddaddy's memory in your life.

Love Jesus more.

If you have long since walked with Jesus, go deeper.

If you have fallen on hard times in your faith, come home to the one that Granddaddy dedicated his whole life to.

And if you have feel far off from God, come and be with the Savior of the world who brings life into the bleakest, darkest, and hardest of places.

If you do those things, then the very words of Jesus come alive. Before he traveled to Bethany, before he raised Lazarus from the grave, he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Beloved, as surely as I know that Grandaddy is face to face with Jesus, I know that his heart's cry in this moment would be for you to know and love Jesus with every fiber of your being.

Death does not get the final word. Jesus does. And that is the legacy left behind by this beloved man.

Let's pray.

Lamentations 3:22–24 (CSB)

22 Because of the LORD’s faithful love

we do not perish,

for his mercies never end.

23 They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness!

24 I say, “The LORD is my portion,

therefore I will put my hope in him.”

Father in Heaven,

We come together as a family before you, hurting. We grieve, we mourn, but we do not lose hope. Because hope has a name and its Jesus. You gave him to us so that even in this moment where life deals us it's most bitter blow we stare back and sing loudly with our hearts. It is well with my soul.

God, I pray that as we remember, honor, and say goodbye to Granddaddy, that we would do all of these things in a way that point directly to Jesus. How he loved you so much. May we follow in his legacy. May we love you more.

In Jesus name.

Amen.